Home Inspections in Gladstone, MO

Most Gladstone homes we inspect are ranches built from the 1950s through the 1970s. Our inspectors know what six decades do to a house like that: basement walls, drywall cracks, chimneys, original pipes and the sewer line out to the street.

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Gladstone home inspections start at $329. Bundle & Save starts at $716 and adds a termite inspection, a radon test, a sewer camera inspection and a floor plan in the same visit. Every home inspection comes with a 30-day home warranty, and the photo report usually arrives the same day.

A mid-century city in the middle of the Northland

Gladstone grew out of the old town of Linden. It incorporated in 1952, took its name from the Gladstone telephone exchange, and its growth took off in the mid-1960s, when comprehensive sewer and water facilities were built (Historic Linden marker). Today it’s completely surrounded by Kansas City, Missouri (KCUR).

That history shows up in the houses. The typical Gladstone home in our sample was built around 1965, and 20 of the 24 with a recorded build year date from the 1950s, 60s or 70s. About two-thirds of the homes with a recorded style are ranches. We also see split-levels, a few townhomes and the occasional house built before 1950. Basements are common, along with some slab-on-grade homes.

What we find in Gladstone homes

Measured against the wider Northland and our full Kansas City-area data, these are the Gladstone findings that stand out, with what each one means for you as a buyer:

• Settling cracks in walls or ceilings: 16 of 26 homes (62%), vs. 44% in the Northland and 47% area-wide. That ties Kansas City, MO for the highest share among the 26 Kansas City-area cities we track. Most are hairline drywall or plaster cracks from decades of normal movement. We check them against what we see in the basement, so you’ll know which ones are cosmetic and which ones need a closer look.
• Yard slopes water toward the house: 20 of 26 (77%), vs. 62% in the Northland, and 10 of those were rated a Major Concern. After 60 years, soil settles against the foundation and sends rain toward the basement. Regrading is usually the first fix.
• Chimney needs repair or cleaning: 14 of 26 (54%), vs. 29% in the Northland and 40% area-wide. Many of these ranches still have their original masonry chimney. A Level 2 chimney inspection tells you what the flue looks like inside.
• Older or problem water supply pipes: 10 of 26 (38%), vs. 18% in the Northland and 19% area-wide. We note the type of pipe, where we saw it and any corrosion, which helps a plumber estimate its remaining life.
• Foundation has moved (repaired or still showing movement): 8 of 26 (31%), vs. 15% in the Northland, with 3 rated a Major Concern. Ask the seller for repair paperwork, and plan on a structural engineer if the wall is still moving.
• Garage-to-house fire barrier not intact: 8 of 26 (31%), vs. 11% in the Northland. Holes in the garage drywall or a door that isn’t fire-rated weaken the barrier between the garage and your living space. It’s usually a simple repair.
• Signs of water leaks, current or past: 11 of 26 (42%), with 5 rated a Major Concern. Each spot gets a photo and location so the right trade can check whether it’s still wet.

Engineered wood siding problems didn’t turn up in any of the 26 Gladstone homes, tied for the lowest share among the cities we track. That fits a city built mostly before engineered siding caught on in the 1980s and ’90s. Wood rot was also less common than average: 9 of 26 homes (35%), vs. 50% area-wide.

Based on 26 Inspect KC inspections in Gladstone, data through October 21, 2026.

For the bigger picture, read our 2026 Kansas City home inspection findings.

What a 60-year-old ranch needs from an inspection

A Gladstone ranch looks simple from the street. Most of what matters is underneath it or behind the walls, so that’s where we spend extra time:

• Basement walls and cracks: we measure and photograph cracks, look for patching that hides earlier movement, and connect what we see below to the drywall cracks and sticking doors upstairs.
• Electrical changes over the years: older cloth-covered wiring, splices outside a junction box, and outlets added by past owners. Older wiring turned up in 5 of the 26 homes (19%).
• Plumbing: original supply pipe, shutoff valves, water heater venting and the drain lines in the basement.
• Roof, attic and chimney: roof age and damage, attic ventilation and insulation, and the chimney crown and flashing.

Updated or flipped? A fresh kitchen and new floors can sit on top of 1960s plumbing and wiring. We look past the finishes and tell you what was updated and what wasn’t.

Sewer lines in Gladstone

Gladstone doesn’t treat its own sewage. It sends it to Kansas City, Missouri for treatment (City of Gladstone sewer FAQ). Most Gladstone homes went up between the 1950s and 1970s, so many homes may still have their original sewer service line, 50 to 70 years old. Gladstone’s residential inspection guide lists a final city inspection for sanitary sewer service line replacement, done after the new line is placed and before the trench is backfilled (City of Gladstone residential inspections). Before you buy, a sewer camera inspection ($200 with your home inspection) shows roots, cracks, sags and offset joints in that line, and you get the video with your report.

Radon in Gladstone

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports radon in every county in the state, and 1 in 3 homes tested in its residential program came in above the recommended action level of 4.0 pCi/L (Missouri DHSS radon). Our radon testing partner uses KDHE-certified radon measurement technicians with continuous monitors that take hourly readings over a 48-hour minimum. It starts at $150 with your inspection.

Gladstone Inspection Services & Pricing

Square footage, age and add-ons set the final number. Our booking page totals it up before you confirm, and the full list is on our pricing page.

Who inspects your Gladstone home

Three inspectors share our Northland schedule. Owner Bryan Standley holds the Certified Master Inspector® designation and personally trains each inspector. Tylor Standley and Aiden Finlan are InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspectors. Office manager Laura Jarrell handles booking and report questions. Since we don’t sell repairs or contractor work, our findings have no sales angle. Meet the team.

Recent inspections in Gladstone

Nearby areas we serve

Across the Northland we also inspect in Liberty, Parkville and the Northland neighborhoods of Kansas City, MO, along with Kearney, Smithville, North Kansas City, Riverside and Pleasant Valley. See all the areas we serve.

How we counted: based on a sample of 26 homes we inspected through October 2026. The Northland figure pools every Northland home in our data. City rankings compare the 26 Kansas City-area cities we track.

Gladstone Home Inspection FAQ

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